It’s time for round two of our interview with Pest Control guru Ken Holmes. This week we’re covering how to get rid of some common pests in the Douglas County area.
- What is the best (and safest) way to get rid of ants? Colony elimination is preferred when possible; using odorless chemicals if ants are inside the home. Additionally, many professional type baits can be used to attract ants to a non-sensitive area in or around your home. Baiting can be effective as well, but requires timely replenishing of product as the worker ants pick up the bait and carry it back to the main colony.
- How can I get rid of spiders in and around my home? Experienced pest control professionals will use both contact kill and residual products in the areas where spiders spend most of their time –both in and outdoors. Popular areas include, but are not limited to, high and low corners, above windows, and around exterior lighting where spiders make webs to catch their food.
- Do we need to worry about ticks and fleas in Douglas County? If so, how can we keep them away from our kids and pets? Ticks in Colorado are usually found in higher elevations than the Denver area, while fleas are found in lower elevations. We are in the perfect location to avoid both! Ticks and fleas, although not often encountered, are still possible. Parents and other adults should check children and pets regularly. Areas to check are hair and other areas on the body where constrictions occur including waist bands and elastic areas of socks.
- I have a small stream in my back yard and have seen a few snakes. Is there anything I can do to keep them away from my yard? Generally, snakes in Colorado are garter and bull snakes. There are prairie rattle snakes on the Eastern Plains, the arid areas of Southern Colorado, and in pockets of rural Metro Denver. Rattlers are usually found where rocky cliffs and outcroppings occur. Keeping snakes from a given area is challenging, as they are small and can find avenues of travel very easily. Mechanical exclusion may be possible in some instances using stakes with a PVC material at 18 inches high and putting dirt, sand, or other similar material to hold the bottom securely to the ground. If you find a snake on your property and aren’t sure if it is poisonous, we do not recommend trying to relocate or capture it on your own, as bites can be deadly.
Image via Wikipedia
Next week we’ll be talking about common local pest control issues, including mosquitos. In addition to being extremely annoying, mosquitos can carry dangerous contagious illnesses for both people and pets.
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